A Collection of Colorful Stairs

When I was a kid growing up in a house, stairs were just an obstacle to getting where I wanted to go. I habitually took them two at a time, flying over the carefully selected runner and barely noticing the antique banisters. But now that I live in a one-level apartment, stairs have become not only a coveted luxury, but also a missed opportunity for color and whimsy. Here are some lucky stair-owners who have taken full advantage of this opportunity.

From stenciled, striped or wallpapered risers to the chromatically painted banisters to hot pink through and through, here is a range of unexpectedly colorful ways to decorate stairs.